Narrative:

This problem arose from the implementation of ASOS. The software does not work properly and some NWS observers are falling down on the job. On may/wed/93, WX at pueblo deteriorated, but not to the point where tower visibility was less than 4 mi. ASOS put out 1 record special and 3 special observations with visibility from 2 - 1 1/4 heavy rain. Thunder was heard in the tower cabin attendant and yet no thunderstorms were on any observations. On that day nor on any other up to today, have I seen tcu, circuit breaker, ltgcc, ltgcg, ltgcccg, or virga. I believe these and many others are very important to flight safety, and should be in the remarks. The NWS can augment the observations and haven't. I have talked to some observers (NWS) and they state there isn't a requirement to augment the observations with the before mentioned WX. We could fix this problem by either doing away with ASOS (this I know is unreasonable) or by making the NWS observers or the controller required to enter the appropriate remarks. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states that ASOS was installed about a yr ago. The equipment is located at the airport and is monitored at the WX office also located at the airport. After each observation is taken there is a 6 min delay for the observer to add any remarks necessary, however, this is not done.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR CLAIMS THAT ASOS OBSERVATION DOES NOT REFLECT THE CORRECT WX AND THE WX OBSERVERS REFUSE TO MAKE CORRECTIONS.

Narrative: THIS PROB AROSE FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ASOS. THE SOFTWARE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND SOME NWS OBSERVERS ARE FALLING DOWN ON THE JOB. ON MAY/WED/93, WX AT PUEBLO DETERIORATED, BUT NOT TO THE POINT WHERE TWR VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN 4 MI. ASOS PUT OUT 1 RECORD SPECIAL AND 3 SPECIAL OBSERVATIONS WITH VISIBILITY FROM 2 - 1 1/4 HVY RAIN. THUNDER WAS HEARD IN THE TWR CAB AND YET NO TSTMS WERE ON ANY OBSERVATIONS. ON THAT DAY NOR ON ANY OTHER UP TO TODAY, HAVE I SEEN TCU, CB, LTGCC, LTGCG, LTGCCCG, OR VIRGA. I BELIEVE THESE AND MANY OTHERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO FLT SAFETY, AND SHOULD BE IN THE REMARKS. THE NWS CAN AUGMENT THE OBSERVATIONS AND HAVEN'T. I HAVE TALKED TO SOME OBSERVERS (NWS) AND THEY STATE THERE ISN'T A REQUIREMENT TO AUGMENT THE OBSERVATIONS WITH THE BEFORE MENTIONED WX. WE COULD FIX THIS PROB BY EITHER DOING AWAY WITH ASOS (THIS I KNOW IS UNREASONABLE) OR BY MAKING THE NWS OBSERVERS OR THE CTLR REQUIRED TO ENTER THE APPROPRIATE REMARKS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATES THAT ASOS WAS INSTALLED ABOUT A YR AGO. THE EQUIP IS LOCATED AT THE ARPT AND IS MONITORED AT THE WX OFFICE ALSO LOCATED AT THE ARPT. AFTER EACH OBSERVATION IS TAKEN THERE IS A 6 MIN DELAY FOR THE OBSERVER TO ADD ANY REMARKS NECESSARY, HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT DONE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.